Posts tagged Kona
Kona on the Brink!
April 24, 2024 1:01pm
by
rob
Legendary brand Kona got snapped up by private equity in 2022, and now after a great deal of mismanagement (who could have predicted this?), their future is in doubt. Owner Kent Outdoors is apparently now offering Kona for sale.
There has been an outpouring of love for Kona over the last few days–from BikePacking to Stevel Knievel to BikeMag.
Will someone come to Kona’s rescue? We hope so!
There has been an outpouring of love for Kona over the last few days–from BikePacking to Stevel Knievel to BikeMag.
Will someone come to Kona’s rescue? We hope so!
Rough Times For Kona
July 3, 2023 11:35am
by
rob
It's getting tough out there--especially for brands not part of the Trek/Specialized/Giant/PON monoliths--and employees of Kona's flagship Bellingham store found out the hard way when the store was closed suddenly at the end of May.
From Bicycle Retailer:
Kona was purchased from its founders in January 2022 by Kent Outdoors, an Ohio-based outdoor sports group that also owns Arbor Snowboards and the O'Brien watersports brand, among others. Kent Outdoors — no relation to the New Jersey-based bike maker Kent International — is owned by a Boston-based private equity firm, Seawall Capital.
After being led for a third of a century by its charismatic founders Jacob Heilbron, Dan Gerhard, and Jimbo Holmstrom, many retailers are suspicious of the brand's new ownership.
Kona has been trying to develop a new DTC strategy to better compete with the big brands, but independent dealers so far have not been happy about it. Let's hope Kent Outdoors can turn things around.
Full story at Bicycle Retailer
Shop Kona bikes on BikeList!
From Bicycle Retailer:
Kona was purchased from its founders in January 2022 by Kent Outdoors, an Ohio-based outdoor sports group that also owns Arbor Snowboards and the O'Brien watersports brand, among others. Kent Outdoors — no relation to the New Jersey-based bike maker Kent International — is owned by a Boston-based private equity firm, Seawall Capital.
After being led for a third of a century by its charismatic founders Jacob Heilbron, Dan Gerhard, and Jimbo Holmstrom, many retailers are suspicious of the brand's new ownership.
Kona has been trying to develop a new DTC strategy to better compete with the big brands, but independent dealers so far have not been happy about it. Let's hope Kent Outdoors can turn things around.
Full story at Bicycle Retailer
Shop Kona bikes on BikeList!